given her a charming offhand compliment as they had studied together?
Matt and Shae. Definitely a pair. At least Shae had always been honest with her, through both words and actions.
Liv let herself into the pasture through the gate, then started walking the fence line, noting that after she turned the corner and started north that the wire was loose—but it didn’t sag and certainly not enough for a horse to step over. She continued walking, keeping a hand on the smooth top wire as she went, trying not to think about what she was going to do if the fence was intact.
Call neighbors. Put up notices. Ask the sheriff to check Matt’s place. As if he’d be stupid enough to keep the horse there. All right, check his parents’ ranch.
She was approaching the second corner-post set when she saw the rooster tail of dust in her driveway. Tim was home. She pulled out her cell to call him, tell him what was up, when she saw the glint of silver as the truck pulled to a stop.
Matt. Great.
She put her head down and kept walking, which was difficult, since the back fence line did not border a field, but instead ran along an unfarmable draw. Willows and tall grass had grown up along the stretch. She’d only made a few yards when Matt let himself through the gate and headed out across the field toward her, his strides long and purposeful for a guy with a knee injury.
Liv sucked in a breath, telling herself that there was no need for her heart to be hammering. But it didn’t help. From the way Matt was stalking across the pasture toward her she had a strong feeling that he was not the guy who’d stolen her horse.
* * *
MATT COULDN’T REMEMBER the last time he’d been so totally pissed, which was something considering the turns his life had taken lately. What was up with this woman?
They’d studied together for half a year, intense sessions three times a week, and he’d thought he’d known her—or what there was to know. Liv had been a shy girl who made academics the focus of her life. Well, she wasn’t so shy anymore and had no qualms about making accusations with a vehemence that surprised him.
He and Liv were going to have a talk, he was going to find out what the hell was going on and they were going to find Beckett.
Liv tilted her chin up slightly as he approached, a stubborn expression on her face. Or maybe it was defensive. Whatever, it wasn’t welcoming.
“How’d you get here so fast?” she asked, firing the first shot.
“I only live two miles away. Did you find where he got out?”
“No. The fence seems fairly tight and I’m not yet convinced that he got out.” She gave a small challenging jerk of her chin with the last words, but he could see doubt in her eyes. Maybe Liv was starting to rethink her accusation. Good.
Matt walked past her to the fence and took hold of the top wire, lifting it a good three inches. “Yeah. Tight.”
“Too tight to walk over,” she muttered.
He shook his head and started along the fence line, not trusting himself to say anything else. It took a few seconds, but he heard Liv fall into step behind him. If there wasn’t a hole in the fence—
He barely started the thought when Liv’s cell phone rang. He stopped and turned toward her when she answered it.
“Hello,” she said without looking at the number, and then she squeezed her eyes shut as if in pain. “This is kind of a bad time—” Another grimace. “Yes, the lavender was nice...the green, too...no, I don’t mind the extra fifty bucks. Shae—” She fell silent and listened. “Can I call you back? Beckett’s gone and I’m—” she met Matt’s eyes before continuing “—dealing with it. Sure. As soon as I know something. Thanks.”
She’d barely pocketed the phone when it rang again, only this time she did look at the caller’s number. Her eyes widened slightly as she put the phone to her ear. “Dad, hi.”
Her tight expression began to change as she listened to her father. A hand went up to her forehead as she studied the ground. “Really?” Once again her eyes, very blue and very conflicted, came up to meet his, held briefly, then dropped again. “No. I’m home now.”
“Find your horse?” Matt asked softly. Liv turned her head away and put a finger in her ear